Employment History
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2003 – 2006 the Co-operative Group: Head of Co-operative Strategy and Head of Social Goals Strategy. In this role I created and championed a social goals agenda to support key business objectives, delivering strategic corporate responsibility plans across the Group’s £8bn (turnover) portfolio; from food stores and travel branches to funeral homes and pharmacies. In addition, I also developed the Group’s party political strategy by conducting extensive consultation with numerous groups and individual key stakeholders across the UK. During this time I was responsible for the development of a comprehensive community strategy to raise awareness of the organisation and its aims, including the operation of two charitable bodies and a ‘soft’ loan fund in total distributing over £3m of support.
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1997 – 2003 United Co-operatives: Member Relations Manager and General Manager, Secretariat. I was responsible for servicing the Board of Directors, Regional Councils and various Board sub-committees as well as organising and overseeing Society elections, members’ meetings and delegations. During this time I also led on the development of governance structures as well as on member recruitment, engagement and development in my role within the member relations or member services function.
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1986 – 1997 Unilever Research: Research Associate specialising in consumer studies and market research.